The 49ers are where the Raiders were three years ago – drastically undermanned, in the midst of unrelenting losing, and with Fort Knox-like money under the salary cap. Obviously, the 10-2 Raiders have made the right moves in hiring coach Jack Del Rio, drafting players like Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, and acquiring players like …

Rows of Champagne flutes sat gleaming on cloth-covered tables, waiting in front of a posh party tent for several hundred people wearing costume construction-worker hard hats. As the groundbreaking ceremonies for the 49ers’ new $1.18 billion stadium in… …

In many ways, the NFL’s 2012 schedule appears favorable for the 49ers, who have a right-in-the-middle-of-the-season bye week and a stretch from Oct. 1 to Nov. 24 in which they will leave town just once. They will play one team coming off a bye week – t… …

One of the after-first-round possibilities is Cal wide receiver Marvin Jones, who told The Chronicle in a phone interview this week that’s he’s had pre-draft discussions with the 49ers. Jones said he “didn’t want to get into depth” about the nature of his contact with the team, but it’s apparently gone beyond the hi-how-are-you-doing stage. …

With red and gold confetti scattering in a Candlestick Lite wind and U2’s “Beautiful Day” playing over loudspeakers, the 49ers’ groundbreaking ceremony for their stadium in Santa Clara came to a close Thursday evening. …

When Jim Harbaugh first saw the NFL’s 2012 schedule, he said he immediately looked to see who the 49ers would play in Week 1. OK, perhaps that’s true. But you can be sure one of Harbaugh’s next moves was to see if, in his view, the league had stuck it to his team for the second straight year. …

When the NFL lockout was lifted last summer, Harbaugh, memorably, said he couldn’t wait to have his players back in the building so he could begin “smelling their breath.” On Wednesday, as Harbaugh spoke the media for the first time since the offseason workout program began two days earlier, he exhibited the same crazed enthusiasm. …

Trent Baalke claims he has a draft crush.
If so, the 49ers can only hope the supposed apple of his eye this year works out as well as the player Baalke became enamored with in 2011: Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith.
In his predraft meeting with the m… …

Season tickets for the 49ers’ new stadium are selling like hotcakes, even though we’re not talking about IHOP pricing.
The most expensive 1,000 seats in No Name Yet Stadium will cost $375 per game – plus $80,000 for a life-of-the-stadium license to buy… …

Based on Randy Moss’ history, a few eyebrows might be raised by the wide receiver’s absence this week while more than 60 of his new teammates participate in the team’s voluntary offseason workout program in Santa Clara. …

Asked about what appears to be the lone unsettled starting spot on the 49ers’ offense or defense, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned Boone, Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person as possibilities to assume Adam Snyder’s role at right guard. …

Today, in his pre-draft meeting with the media, Baalke said he’s in a similar spot with the No. 30 pick in this year’s draft. Barring a trade up or down, Baalke is confident a player “we feel real good about” will be available when they pull the trigger late in the first round. …

(04-17) 21:17 PDT — So much for easing into 2012.
The NFL unveiled the dates for the 2012 season Tuesday, and the 49ers drew a doozy in Week 1: A Sept. 9 visit to Lambeau Field, where the Packers, 15-1 last year, have won 13 straight regular-season g… …

The 49ers will open the regular season on Sept. 9 at Lambeau Field, where the Packers, 15-1 last year, have won 13 straight regular-season games. In addition, the Niners have lost eight straight games at Lambeau. …

Backup inside-linebacker Larry Grant signed his restricted free-agent tender Monday and participated in the first day of the 49ers’ offseason workout program, his agent said.
Grant, 27, who will earn $1.26 million this season, will become an unrestric… …